Sports training device

Abstract

An athletic training device trains athletes to observe the collision between a ball and bat, club, racquet, or the like. The training device may provide a unique event, such as a flashing light, at the moment of the collision. Athletes can be trained to watch the ball, bat, club, racquet or the like, to note the flash of light, thereby focusing the attention of the athlete to “keep their eye on the ball”. The training device of the present invention can provide a unique event that attracts and induces anticipation from the collision point itself. The unique event can be a light flash, multiple light flashes, colored light flashes, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training device comprising:
 an impact sensing mechanism adapted to sense an impact with or by the training device;   a logic circuit receiving a signal from the impact sensing mechanism when the impact sensing mechanism senses the impact; and   a light generating mechanism receiving an illumination signal from the logic circuit to cause an illumination event comprised of one or more flashes of at least one light for a combined duration of less than 1,000 milliseconds.   
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the training device prevents the subsequent illumination of the at least one light for a predetermined period of time following the illumination event. 
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein each illumination event is adapted to illuminate the at least one light in at least one of a selected color and a pattern, wherein the selected color or pattern is selected from one of a plurality of available colors or patterns. 
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light includes a plurality of lights disposed about an outer periphery of a ball. 
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light includes an illuminating central region of a ball surrounded by a transparent or translucent outer periphery. 
     
     
         6 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the training device generates light on a ball at the time of impact with a striking object. 
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the training device generates a light on a striking device at the time of impact with a ball. 
     
     
         8 . A training device comprising:
 an impact sensing mechanism adapted to sense an impact with or by the training device;   a logic circuit receiving a signal from the impact sensing mechanism when the impact sensing mechanism senses the impact; and   a light generating mechanism receiving an illumination signal from the logic circuit to cause at least one light to illuminate, wherein each illumination event is adapted to illuminate the at least one light in at least one of a selected color and a pattern, wherein the selected color or pattern is selected from one of a plurality of available colors or patterns.   
     
     
         9 . The training device of  claim 8 , wherein the training device prevents the illumination of the at least one light for a predetermined period of time following the impact. 
     
     
         10 . The training device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one light includes a plurality of lights disposed about an outer periphery of a ball. 
     
     
         11 . The training device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one light includes an illuminating central region of a ball surrounded by a transparent or translucent outer periphery. 
     
     
         12 . The training device of  claim 8 , wherein the training device generates light on a ball at the time of impact with a striking object. 
     
     
         13 . The training device of  claim 8 , wherein the training device generates a light on a striking device at the time of impact with a ball. 
     
     
         14 . A method for training athletes to watch a ball at a point of impact with an object used while playing a sport, the method comprising:
 impacting the ball with the object;   determining a color for lighting at least one light on either the ball or the object; and   producing an illumination event including at least one flash of light in the at least one light at an impact time.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the illumination event occurs for a duration of less than 1,000 milliseconds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising focusing on the impact to identify the color of the at least one flash of light in the at least one light. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising flashing lights positioned in at least six different, equidistant-spaced locations on a periphery of the ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one light illuminates a central region of a ball surrounded by a transparent or translucent outer periphery.